As the 119th Congress prepares for its opening session on January 3rd, Republican Congressman Joe Wilson is urging the incoming Trump administration to prioritize advancing U.S. interests and targeting foreign malign actors. In a letter obtained by Fox News Digital, Wilson calls on Secretary of State nominee Senator Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor nominee Representative Michael Waltz to focus on dismantling Georgian sanctions evasion schemes and other illicit enterprises tied to Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili. Ivanishvili was recently sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury for undermining the democratic future of Georgia for the benefit of Russia. Wilson, who chairs The Helsinki Commission, urges the incoming administration to extend sanctions to Ivanishvili’s family members and associates to defend democracy and counter malign influence worldwide.
Georgia has been facing turmoil following the highly disputed victory of Ivanishvili’s Georgian Dream party in October parliamentary elections, leading to widespread demonstrations and international condemnation. Despite calls for new elections by local and international observers, the ruling party went ahead with the appointment of a new president, Mikheil Kavelashvili, in a ceremony that lacked foreign dignitaries and guests. Georgian Dream officials have dismissed the possibility of U.S. sanctions, expressing optimism about positive changes under President Trump’s administration. However, experts like Laura Linderman of the American Foreign Policy Council believe that the new administration is unlikely to provide favorable treatment to Georgia due to its alignment with authoritarian regimes and isolation from the West.
Georgian Dream’s government, led by Ivanishvili, has increasingly aligned with authoritarian regimes and distanced itself from the West, favoring partnerships with China, adopting Russian-style laws, and suspending EU accession talks. PM Kobakhidze’s visits to Iran have also raised concerns about the country’s drift towards anti-Western alliances. James Carafano of the Heritage Foundation warns that governments leaning on Moscow and Beijing for support can no longer expect favorable treatment from the Trump administration. Carafano suggests that Georgia’s alignment with China and Iran, rather than the West, may result in a tough stance from the new administration, especially if U.S. interests are at stake. The shift in Georgia’s foreign policy alliances has raised concerns among experts and policymakers about the country’s future trajectory under Ivanishvili’s leadership.
Wilson’s letter highlights the need to address Georgia’s connections to foreign malign actors and prioritize defending democracy in the region. The imposition of sanctions on Ivanishvili and his associates is seen as a significant step towards countering Russia’s influence in the region. Despite Georgian Dream’s optimism about the incoming Trump administration, experts like Linderman and Carafano believe that Georgia’s alignment with authoritarian regimes may not bode well for its relations with the U.S. Wilson’s call for extending sanctions to Ivanishvili’s inner circle underscores the importance of preventing further destabilization in Georgia and promoting democratic values in the region. As the 119th Congress convenes and the Trump administration takes office, the future of U.S.-Georgia relations remains uncertain amidst concerns about Georgia’s drift towards anti-Western alliances and democratic backsliding.
